My strategy for adjusting to being back was to go slow. Start revisiting the usual places a little at a time. Rest and unpack, get organized the first couple of days. By the second day I was ready to go for a walk. Did do some walks, even ran for 30 minutes the other day. Visited the Fort, Safeway, Fred Meyer, the local Starbucks.
Many things going on in the greater environment. A mail bomber, shooter, white supremacist. A despicable president. The 2018 mid terms that may give the orange menace more power and control. Conspiracies theories, "state" media in Fox news - something distinct is going on in the Right. Something authoritarianism. A bomb is sent to CNN and the president says the media is an enemy of the people. Within the US - we are seeing losers being radicalized by the right wing apparatus. 40% of the country has opted into an alternative reality. The propaganda industry (Drmpf and dark web) has blood on their hands - by triggering and radicalizing these nuts.
Surprisingly, there was at least one voice on Fox who came out and told viewers that there is nothing to be afraid of - we are not being attacked - there is not horde of warriors at the border. Orange Menace is doing several last minute things - all lies - in an attempt to make the midterms go his way. The Repbulicans don't take a stand against lies. In several states they are doing everything they can to suppress voters. Even Jimmie Carter has called out the Secretary of State in Georgia . They know they are not on the side of history and are a party of shrinking members - so they have to resort to illegal efforts to control voting or keep people from voting.
This is very depressing - like an undertow of unbelievable filthy, polluted water running over the landscape. How can you go against or win when one of the parties lies and lies? I have been asking this all along. Now the media and others are asking too. Do you trust that the truth will win? That those that lie will be caught? I don't know. Very frightening. Makes me feel helpless.
Not only is there depressing and stressful things going on all over the country - there are things going on in the family that are hurtful and challenging. Stuff with Sheila and how she treats her children. The way the siblings interact with each other. Why so hurtful? J & L are struggling dealing with his DUI - costly, stress it is causing with schedules, with work and new job. Not sure that Jeremy has figured out that he may really have a problem with alcohol. Still in the blame game? I have to keep quiet since I have a negative history (pain and hurt) where I caused pain. I am responsible for my actions, no matter what - but can understand how that happened.
Anyway - I am challenged with holding down the fort and taking care of a senior dogie, that we love but who is "old" - he has been "bullet proof" - strong, but it is a fact that his legs are wobbly, he is having a hard time with the stairs. He does have a good appetite , manages to eat and drink - but he just needs to be and rest on the carpet.
I listened to Krista and Maribai Bush update some of their original discussion on mindfulness. It is true there is a lot of stuff everywhere on mindfulness. Krista says she struggles with even doing 6 minutes of mindfulness, I get it. It is hard - I think I can do 6 minutes, maybe even a couple minutes more. I sort of think of this time stuck at home with Buddy as a several days practice of mindfulness. A couple of things of note: important - I am home, I am not traveling. No work travel even on the horizon for a while. So I can settle down - be centered - and spend the time. That is new - I realize, I have often, always doing things between one work trip and another. For 30 years. I don't have to hurry to do something or get something done because I will be gone. I am here!
A few days later...political situation is horrible. So many lies. Read about the gradual move of the Repbulican party further right and showing a lack of willingness to collaborate. The Democrats have moved some to the left - but been overall has stayed more centrist. Orange Menace creates fear and division and out right lies - tells stories. Thousands of lies - news media counting his lies. But of course, then he labels media as the enemy of the people. Media fact checks and he says they make up negative news about him. Not true.
Watching Rick Steve's Fascism in Europe - it is 11/3, three days before the midterms. Watching and listening - it can happen again. It can happen here - all of the representatives on the program from each country, Germany, Spain, Italy - say education is everything. An independent media is key. Charismatic leaders gain power through democratic processes. Charismatic leaders promise simple solutions for complex problems. Use fear to gain control. Slowly, or not so slowly - they gain power over institutions or degrade the current order. Like saying that birth citizenship guaranteed in the Constitution can be written away with an executive order. And the fearful, uneducated cheer.
There is an undertow.
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